Iran Denies Involvement in Cyberattack on French Supermarkets
Iran's Strong Rejection of Cyberattack Allegations
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Tehran/Paris, Nov 11: The Iranian Foreign Ministry has firmly dismissed France's claims of Iran's involvement in a cyberattack that targeted refrigeration systems in numerous French supermarkets last month as "unfounded and malicious."
In a statement released on Tuesday (local time), the ministry condemned the repetitive nature of accusations directed at Iran, labeling them as "threadbare" and lacking credibility.
The ministry asserted that this latest allegation is part of a broader strategy to distract from France's detrimental policies towards Iran and the West Asia region, describing it as an "irresponsible and foolish act" intended to damage Iran's reputation and hinder its international relations.
It emphasized that Iran is prepared to take all necessary actions to safeguard its national interests and security against what it termed "illegal foreign activities."
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated on Monday that the cyberattack was attributed to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to reports from a news agency.
Following a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Paris, Barrot mentioned that France had summoned the Iranian ambassador to express a "strong protest" regarding the incident.
In related developments, the Italian Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that Italy would enhance its cybersecurity measures, focusing on coordination, information sharing, and investment in protective systems in response to recent cyberattacks affecting various European nations.
These initiatives were discussed during a meeting of the National Committee for Public Order and Security, led by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.
Participants reviewed the resilience of Italy's systems, the continuity of services, and the tactics employed in the recent cyber incidents, as stated by the ministry.
As investigations progressed, the committee noted a common motive behind the incidents: to create instability, spread unfounded alarms, and damage the reputation of targeted institutions.
The meeting also evaluated cybersecurity threats and deliberated on additional measures to safeguard public administrations, critical infrastructure, businesses, and citizens.
Agreed actions included enhanced coordination of ongoing intelligence and investigative efforts among police, intelligence agencies, and cybersecurity organizations, improved information sharing with both public and private sectors, and increased investment to bolster system protection and response capabilities.